ALPHARETTA, Ga. – Pets of all shapes and sizes joined their family members for the annual fall festival held at Loving Hands Animal Clinic in Alpharetta on Sunday, Oct. 6 to celebrate its 20th anniversary.

The carnival-themed festival, complete with face-painting, snow cones and popcorn, also included a ribbon cutting of a brick memorial garden to remember beloved pets who have passed away.

Girl Scout Brooke Whiting, who raised the money and created the brick memorial as part of her Girl Scout Silver Award project, enjoyed the garden’s unveiling and was happy to have a good turnout at the festival.

“I’m very appreciative that everyone cares so much about the memorial and that they really like it,” she said.

While Whiting started planning for the memorial last September, it wasn’t until she raised more than $900 that she was finally able to finish it.

“To have somebody give their gift of doing good in the world to my clinic is amazing,” said Dr. Joanne Roesner, who opened Loving Hands in 1993. “I can’t tell you how incredibly moved I am to have this on our 20th anniversary.”

Roesner added that what’s most important to her isn’t how much money she makes, but that she lives selflessly and gives back to her community.

“All of my roots are here, and what Loving Hands Animal Clinic has allowed me to do is live out my dream of making a contribution to the world that I live in. When I look back over the last 20 years, I feel like I’ve done something good,” Roesner said.

In addition to having four main veterinarians, Loving Hands works to rescue animals and find them good homes, teach responsible pet care in the community through programs and seminars, make service dogs available to the handicapped and mentor veterinary students.

For more information on Loving Hands Animal Clinic, at 13775 Highway 9 North in Alpharetta, visit www.LovingHands.com or call 770-667-9022.